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US Held Secret Meetings with Taleban in 1998
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=EABD99:3919ACA

Declassified documents show diplomatic efforts between Washington,
Taleban rulers took place few months after deadly terrorist bombings
at US Embassies in Africa Declassified documents reveal the U.S. State
Department held secret meetings with top Taleban officials in 1998 and
discussed assassinating or expelling al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden
from Afghanistan.

Documents declassified Thursday show diplomatic efforts between
Washington and the Taleban rulers took place a few months after deadly
terrorist bombings at U.S. Embassies in Africa. That also places the
meetings nearly three years before the September 11 terrorist attacks
on the United States.

The documents show that a diplomat from the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan
met with a top aide to Taleban leader Mullah Omar twice in late 1998.
During the meetings, the aide suggested the U.S. either kill or
arrange for Osama bin Laden to be assassinated.

The aide expressed concern that the Afghan people would reject the
Taleban if it expelled the al-Qaida leader and allowed him to be
turned him over to the Americans.

A U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan toppled the Taleban in October
2001.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

 


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